The annual Medibank Private Chart Toppers Index, released today, not only highlights the potential costs associated with looking after your health - it further substantiates the claim that healthcare costs continue to soar.
The value of the top claim paid by Medibank Private, for the year ending 30 June 2006, was more than $276,000 paid on behalf of a 59 year old man for a coronary artery bypass.
The top 10 claims paid by Medibank Private totalled $2,124,288 - this is $385,415, or around 22 per cent, more than the total of the top 10 claims in the previous year.
The Medibank Private Chart Toppers Index is a review of Medibank Private member claims and benefit payouts, and ranks Medibank Private's Top 10 claims and most common reasons for hospitalisation.
Medibank Private Managing Director, George Savvides, commented there was a significant increase in the total of the top 10 claims this year as well as a shift in the age of people that the claims were paid for.
Two of the top 10 claims in the index were for neonatal care, four of the claims were for members under the age of 50, and six were under the age of 60.
"Our Chart Topper claims are always going to be for serious, acute procedures - however, the mix of the age of members and procedures on this year's index highlights the fact that you cannot assume you will only require serious healthcare in your old age.
"With two new borns and a 24 year old in the top 10, it's pretty obvious that the cost of healthcare can potentially hit you at any stage of your life," he said.
This year's Index again listed digestive treatments as the highest reason for Medibank Private members to go to hospital. Oncology and gynaecology procedures were both new additions to the top five reasons for Medibank members to go to hospital.
Top 10 Benefit payoutsPROCEDUREGENDERAGE****TOTAL BENEFIT PAIDCardiac Surgery - Coronary artery bypass
Male
59$276,247 Intensive Care Unit - Neonatal
Male
0$265,049 Chronic hernia repair - Neonatal
Female
0$234,195 Thoracic Surgery - Major lung procedure
Male
63$225,241Neurosurgery
Male
48$197,862 Revision of vascular access for dialysis
Male
57$196,789 Major skin and muscle graft
Female
59$185,543 Cardiac Surgery - Open heart surgery
Male
64$184,834 Neurosurgery
Male
24$180,326 Cardiac Surgery
Female
79$178,202 TOTAL:-
-$2,124,288Top 5 reasons by number of admissions**Reason for AdmissionNumber of admissionsTotal benefits (approx.)****Highest Claim (approx.)**Digestive (Diagnostic endoscopies)
76,399
$36.9m$26,000Oncology (Cancer)
57,780
$48.4m$54,000Orthopaedic
37,309
$90.2m$114,000Gynaecology
33,525
$50.5m$32,500Kidney & urinary tract
28,897
$11.6m$48,700ENDSFor further information please contact:
Libby Woolnough - Medibank Private
T. (03) 8622 5181 or 0411 659 060
E: libby_Woolnough@medibank.com.au